North Carolina news in brief

Associated Press

Tuesday

Oct 27, 2015 at 10:30 AM

RALEIGH — A Cary accountant and certified financial planner says he's running again for North Carolina state treasurer. Ron Elmer ran unsuccessfully in 2012, losing in the Democratic primary to incumbent Janet Cowell, who is not seeking re-election.

Elmer says his financial world experience to manage the state's portfolio makes him well qualified for the post. The treasurer's main responsibility is overseeing roughly $90 billion in retiree pension funds.

Elmer says he would save taxpayers more than $100 million annually by managing in-house the state's stock portfolio. Elmer says he previously managed some of that portfolio while working at First Citizens Bank. The treasurer's office also is responsible for the state employee and retire health insurance plan.

RALEIGH — Wake County Schools officials have confirmed that a Raleigh elementary school principal was charged earlier this year with passing a stopped school bus.

WNCN-TV reports that Bugg Magnet Elementary principal Johneka Simmons Williams was charged April 27. According to an incident report, a Highway Patrol trooper said Williams said she would never pass a stopped school bus and hadn't done so while the stop arm was out. The 36-year-old said in a statement that she takes roadway safety seriously, "particularly when it involves students."

If found guilty, Williams could face a minimum fine of $500.

CHAPEL HILL — The university of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says it spent about $7.6 million on outside legal and public relations help during an academic scandal in recent years.

The university said Monday the money went to three law firms and one public relations firm. The work largely dates to mid-2014, but some started in 2012. The university said none of the fees came from state funds or tuition money.

Fallout including lawsuits and an NCAA investigation stem from fake classes and artificially high grades in one academic department for nearly two decades starting in the early 1990s. About half the 3,100 students in the classes were athletes.

CHAPEL HILL — The much-criticized chairman of the University of North Carolina's governing board is quitting now that the search for a new top administrator of the state's public universities is done. UNC officials said Monday that Charlotte attorney John Fennebresque resigned his seat on the Board of Governors, which oversees the 17-campus University of North Carolina.

Asheville attorney Louis Bissette Jr. steps in until the UNC board elects a new leader.

Fennebresque in January engineered the early removal of university system President Tom Ross. Fennebresque praised Ross and explained the move by saying only that he and the board decided it was time for a change.

Former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings was announced on Friday as the next UNC president. That process was panned by fellow board members as too secretive.

RALEIGH – Gov. Pat McCrory and first lady Ann McCrory have lighted the Executive Mansion in Raleigh and the Governor's Western Residence in Asheville purple to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and its prevalence in the state.

"Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States," McCrory said. "Ann and I are committed to raising awareness for the vital need for research of this disease."

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will host a PurpleLight Ceremony on the State Capitol grounds tonight at 6 p.m. for survivors, family and friends who have been affected by the disease. The Capitol will also be lit purple.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that injured a woman in her home.

On Saturday at 11:51 a.m., the county Communications Center received a 911 call in reference to a shooting at 359 Newton Cole Road. Sheriff’s deputies responded and found 25-year-old Jessica Arrowood Dalton suffering from a gunshot wound to her neck.

Dalton was taken to Spartanburg Regional Hospital in South Carolina by Rutherford County EMS. Dalton was still a patient Monday and is listed in critical condition.

The residence at 359 Newton Cole Road was fired into multiple times by a rifle caliber, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. All rounds appear to be shot from outside the residence.

There were several occupants in the residence at the time of the shooting and it appears that Dalton was an innocent victim, the release states.

The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jimmy Upton at 828-287-6247 or Rutherford County Crime Stoppers at 828-286-TIPS (8477).

DURHAM — Police at North Carolina Central University in Durham say an argument led to a shooting that sent one student to a hospital.

A lockdown was briefly issued at the school around 11 p.m. Sunday after the student was shot on the edge of the campus. University spokeswoman Ayana Hernandez says the lockdown was lifted about 50 minutes later.

Hernandez said in a statement Monday morning that there wasn't an active shooter situation on the campus. Hernandez said the shooting followed an argument and was not a random act.

She said the 19-year-old sophomore was treated and released from a hospital Monday morning. The student's name was not released.

No arrests have been made.

LUMBERTON — A Fayetteville man has been arrested and charged after a wreck killed a volunteer firefighter in Robeson County. The North Carolina Highway Patrol told local media that the wreck happened late Saturday about three miles east of Lumberton.

The patrol said 51-yea-rold Robert Melvin Bryant Jr. of Lumberton died in the wreck. Sgt. Phillip Collins said Bryant was slowing to make a turn when his pickup was hit from behind by a car.

Thirty-eight-year-old Dennis Wayne Jones of Fayetteville has been charged with driving while impaired, felony hit and run and failure to reduce speed.

Troopers said Bryant's truck flipped several times and hit a tree. Collins says Jones drove away after the wreck. Jones was arrested at his home Sunday. It was not clear if he has a lawyer.

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